Cortney Richardson, Recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Young Alum Award

Cortney Richardson is a distinguished community leader, business owner, pastor, gospel singer and songwriter. He is proud to have been recognized as a “Weapon of Mass Inspiration” in the local community. Richardson graduated from the University of Memphis with a Bachelor of Professional Studies in 2011. He now serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Peer Power, a Memphis-based nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth through high-quality tutoring and mentoring services. Richardson is dedicated to fostering leadership opportunities for students from all walks of life. He believes that helping students understand their potential allows them to flourish.

Under his visionary leadership, Peer Power employs hundreds of high-performing college students, known as Success Coaches, who provide invaluable academic support to their peers in various public and charter schools across Memphis. Having started in the program himself 20 years ago, Richardson knows first-hand the ripple effect of positivity this support can provide.

Richardson has previously served as the Youth Pastor, Young Adult Pastor and Online Campus Pastor at New Life of Memphis. He has made significant contributions to student life and leadership through the Emerging Leaders Program, Empowered Men of Color, Multicultural Affairs, founding Project Transformation Bible Study and several other local initiatives. Additionally, he is a board member of the University of Memphis Black Alumni Chapter and continues to serve the university students through Peer Power.